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A small sheng (approx. 200ml) of mulberry twig, finely chopped and stir-fried until fragrant, is decocted with three sheng (approx. 600ml) of water to obtain two sheng (approx. 400ml) of liquid. It should be consumed throughout the day without specific timing.
This prescription is effective for various types of gout (tongfeng).
The *Bencao Tujing* (Illustrated Materia Medica) states: Mulberry twig has a neutral nature, neither cold nor hot, and can be taken regularly. It treats body itching caused by wind-stroke, dry or damp jiaoxi (podagra/foot qi), limb spasms and contractures due to wind-pathogens, upward rushing of qi, blurred vision, pulmonary cough, aids digestion, promotes urination; long-term use makes the body light, sharpens hearing and vision, enhances complexion, and relieves dry mouth. The *Baopuzi Xianjing* (Immortal Classic of Baopu Zi) says: All immortal herbs are ineffective unless taken with mulberry twig decoction. Scholar Xu stated: During the Zhenghe era, I suffered from pain in both arms. After taking various medicines without effect, I prepared several doses according to this prescription, and the arm pain soon healed.

Preface: The syndrome of Leprosy (lifeng) has been difficult for physicians since ancient times to the present, hence there are many who treat it recklessly in this world. Only Jiegu (Li Dongyuan's teacher, Zhang Congzheng's contemporary, actually Li Gao refers to Zhang Congzheng as Jiegu? No, Jiegu is Zhang Congzheng, Dongyuan is Li Gao. Wait, Jiegu is Zhang Congzheng. Dongyuan is Li Gao. The text says "Jiegu, Dongyuan". Zhang Congzheng is styled Jiegu. Li Gao is styled Dongyuan.) and Dongyuan (Li Gao) have deeply understood the mysteries of lifeng; others have not spoken on it. Now, examining six prescriptions from ancients, these are perhaps the exquisite and rare refined formulas!

Sophora root (Kushen) (4 liang, ground into powder) Earth pit viper (Tufushe) White flower snake (Baihuashe) Black-headed snake (Wushaoshe) (One each, complete head and tail, soaked in wine for 2-3 days, bones removed, dried in shade and ground into powder) Soap pod (Zaojiao) (5 jin, skin and strings removed, soaked in non-ashy wine overnight, taken out and boiled with water to make paste)
Grind the above four ingredients—Kushen, Fusu, Baihua, Wushao—into powder. Mix with the Zaojiao paste to form pills the size of sophora seeds. Take 70 pills per dose, swallowed with the decoction of Yupingfeng San (Jade Windscreen Powder). For mild cases, using one of the three snakes is sufficient for efficacy; all are not necessary.
For lifeng (leprosy/hansen's disease) presenting with numbness in hands and feet, hair loss including eyebrows, generalized lepromatous rashes, and sores formed by scratching, this formula is indicated.
Lifeng is the wind that kills things between heaven and earth, belonging to the Qi of Dry Metal. Thus, it causes ulcers that do not suppurate and conditions that are dry rather than damp. The nature of Dry Metal is astringent/stagnant; once it invades a person, the circulation of Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi becomes stagnant, leading to insensitivity and numbness. Hair loss and eyebrow shedding occur because the dry wind damages Ying and Wei, causing the exterior Qi to be insecure. Generalized lepromatous rashes indicate simultaneous pathology of Qi rising and Blood being diseased. Generally, pain belongs to Excess, while itching belongs to Deficiency. Although the itching of lifeng is often due to parasites, the deficiency of Wei Qi cannot be denied. In this syndrome, using drying agents to disperse wind would counterproductively assist the pathogen, often leading to death from blood exhaustion. Therefore, we seek ancient moistening formulas to treat it. The white flower snake, black-headed snake, and earth pit viper belong to the category of blood and qi (flesh-and-blood sentient beings). Using such substances to drive out wind naturally provides moisture. However, they contain toxicity; through the principle of "like attracts like," they reach directly to the abode of the lifeng toxin, ensuring immediate efficacy. The nature of soap pods is good at cleansing the body, thus it can also cleanse the disease. The nature of Sophora root is good at clearing heat, thus it can also dispel wind. In the past, people took Fangfeng Tongsheng San, which is a formula inducing sweating and purging, unsuitable for those with deficient Ying and Wei. Now, replacing it with Yupingfeng San, Huangqi (Astragalus) can drain pus and tonify the exterior, Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia) can promote Qi flow and disperse pathogens, and Baizhu (Atractylodes) can solidify the Spleen and tonify muscles.